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photolithography

photolithography

1 9.9
A process that uses light and photo masks to make tiny patterns on surfaces for things like microchips
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtəˌlɪθəˈɡrɑfi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fotolitografía
  • Chipmakers use photolithography to etch electronic circuits into silicon wafers, and they are quickly approaching the physical limits of that technology.
  • use photolithography
  • photolithography to etch

Examples

  • The technician demonstrated how photolithography is used to develop microchips by applying light to a photoresist film.

  • Photolithography is a common method to fabricate high-efficiency IBC-SHJ solar cells.

    Academic text (2018)
  • His career in photolithography eventually led to electronic digital book publishing and digital color separation work.

    Academic text (1998)
  • However, photolithography has a large number of processing steps, which increase the overall cost of fabrication.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The patterns were increasingly produced by photolithography on a silicon dioxide surface layer grown on silicon.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Photolithography is the exposure of photosensitive resist to ultraviolet light to transfer an original image.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Thanks to advances in photolithography, which etches the pattern for the circuits with a focused beam of light, the computer industry has been able to match this progress for more than 40 years.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Commonly used techniques for via creation are laser ablation, reactive ion etching, and photolithography using a photosensitive polyimide.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Photolithography is essential in the semiconductor industry for creating intricate patterns on photolithography silicon wafers.

  • In modern manufacturing, photolithography allows for precise etching of circuits into silicon, critical for electronics.

Synonyms

lithography
vsphotolithography
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A process that uses light to put a tiny pattern on a computer chip

is about making patterns from photographic plates or masks rather than only resist exposure
litho
vsphotolithography
  • Jargon
1 7.7

A print made by a method that uses a flat stone or plate

is the specific process for creating patterns with photographic plates or masks
photoplate making
vsphotolithography
  • Archaic
7.3

The process of making printing plates using light and photo film

is broader and also creates patterns with masks for semiconductors
photomechanics
vsphotolithography
  • Specialized
9.5

The process of making printing plates from photos to print images

focuses on pattern creation and includes masks for semiconductor manufacturing
photorelief
vsphotolithography
  • Specialized
9.8

A raised image used to make prints from a photograph

focuses on pattern formation not limited to raised images or plates
patterning
vsphotolithography
  • Specialized
6.1

Making precise layouts on a surface, for example on computer chips

is specific to photographic plate or mask methods rather than general layout work

How Fine

photolithography
  • Specialized
1 9.9
lithography
  • Specialized
1 8.1
printing
31 1.0
silkscreening
  • Specialized
5.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

photolithography = lithography (opaque) = photo + litho + graph + y

The word is formed by adding photo- to lithography, but the resulting technical meaning is not recoverable for an average B1 learner from the parts alone.

Etymology

Photolithography breaks into photo- 'light', litho- 'stone', and -graphy 'writing or drawing'. It originally meant 'printing from a stone using light', so today photolithography means using light and photographic images or masks to draw or print very small patterns, for example on microchips.